Hardness tester Stand for Lee Precision 20x Microscope

I was recently discussing hardness testing with a member here. Having a way to hold the Lee scope steady and be able to move the boolit into the measuring grid with small and steady movements, make taking measurements fun and painless.

I got the idea of modifying a cheapo microscope from Larry Gibson a few years ago. I got lucky and found this child's toy Microscope kit at a thrift shop...It was marked $4, IIRC & I bought it on a Tuesday, when everything is 50% off.

After Modification
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...psf328a171.jpg




Here is a Before picture
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps2217014c.jpg




First, I removed the eyepiece by turning counter clockwise til it comes off, then remove the one screw that holds the multiplier lenses on.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...psebeabf8c.jpg




Then, find a drill bit the size of the Lee scope, and drill out the tiny bit of plastic, necessary to install the Lee scope.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...psabce69b4.jpg




I used some beeswax based boolit lube to "hold" the scope in place
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps0355c997.jpg




I used a piece of card stock as a 'slide', with some soft/tacky boolit lube on it, to hold the boolit sample for ease of adjustment.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps99d12363.jpg


That was about as easy of a Modification on anything that I have ever cobbled together.

Now, there are many other solutions, many simple ones. Feel free to post them here.

Pretty dang good idea there...is the scope perpendicular to the boolit?

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Originally Posted by OS OK

Pretty dang good idea there...is the scope perpendicular to the boolit?

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Perpendicular enough... I suppose it's as perfectly perpendicular as ScienceTech had the Chinese factory make it ;-)

I've noticed that when I don't hold the scope at 90* to the side of the boolit it gets slightly out of focus and one side of the crater rim gets fuzzy to some extent. Could be that I lean to one side more than that setup does...maybe it's negligible.

well then, it must be pretty close to perpendicular...when I adjust the up-down adjustment so the Lee Mic just touches the boolit, the whole area is in focus.

Yes, so long as it touches it should be correct. I'm going to have to come up with an aid like this too, just too many things that I need to attend to that comes first...by the time I have a break I've forgotten all those 'light bulb in the brain ideas' that I intended to do!

I recently modified a "toy microscope" I scored on eBay for $ 6 in almost the exact same way. The only difference in my modification is that in place of using beeswax lube to hold the Lee scope in place I made a wooden collar that press fit around the Lee scope body and into the toy microscope.

I am having difficulty finding the proper light source to illuminate the bullet to be able to clearly see the indentation crater and read the scope scale. I first tried a LED flashlight. The bright light clearly showed the crater but washed out the scale and had a very bright reflection off the bullet that made it difficult to see anything through the scope. I then tried an old school incandescent flash light. That was better as the light was softer and the reflection much less. I could see the crater clearly and it was easy to find the scale and move the zero mark on the scale to the left edge of the crater. However, I am still having difficulty reading the value of the scale on the right edge of the crater. Anyone have suggestions on better lighting. I tried measuring the diameter of the crater with a digital caliper, but these old eyes just couldn't get an accurate reading. I will try the calipers again under a magnifying glass.

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Originally Posted by LiveSteamer

I will try the calipers again under a magnifying glass.

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Not only is it useful for a LOT of things when your eyes start needing extra help, a headband magnifier works well for the 'caliper and indent' game.
I bought this model ...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Lens-Head-...AAAOSw-jhUGNw6

I use a cheap Harborfrieght nine LED flashlight...usually on sale for $1.
I hold it at an angle, then the shine/reflection isn't in the area I'm trying to line up with the scale marks.

This is what I made to use the tester scope.
Attachment 175137

I use a .452 lee sizing die in my press to hold it move ram up and down to focus Attachment 175365

Pure genius Mike...everything you needed was right there all along and provided for by Lee. I wonder if they know about this little adaptation?

I hope you are slow and careful raising the ram...If you 'sneeze' you might just poke yourself in the eye with too much force on the ram...:bigsmyl2:

Mike thats a modification that even I can do . Thanks

Attachment 175717

This is my no cost option.

ukrifleman

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This is my no cost option.
ukrifleman

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+1 I also created different tools to hold my Lee microscope, including modifying a toy microscope among the various efforts. I saw a post a few years ago about the bottle top. Just drill the hole small enough for a snug fit. Mine doesn't include the wooden piece to hold the boolit, but it looks like a nice addition.

Amazingly simple, lets lots of light in from every angle, and holds steady... go to your fridge for the necessary ingredient.

Randy

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Originally Posted by ukrifleman

Attachment 175717

This is my no cost option.

ukrifleman

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Well hell, even I can make that!

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Originally Posted by ukrifleman

Attachment 175717

This is my no cost option.

ukrifleman

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That is too funny as I did the same thing trying to stay with the K.I.S.S. rule of what I had.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...pshwqql2ik.jpg

I stickied this thread due to a suggestion from W.R.Buchanan.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...test-kit/page2

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Originally Posted by ukrifleman

Attachment 175717

This is my no cost option.

ukrifleman

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Well. Will have to wait until I drain my next bottle of tonic water. But perhaps a Gatorade bottle would be a bit more structurally sound.

Great idea to solve a tricky control problem.

Try this one, I have ordered one, have not received it yet. Will post a review after I use it for a week or so.
https://www.thereloadersnetwork.com/...ness-test-kit/